Buddleja plant named ‘Podaras #12’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Buddleja  plant named ‘Podaras #12’, characterized by its compact and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely flowering habit; sterile violet blue-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: (Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia)×Buddleja davidii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PODARAS #12’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant, botanically known as (Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia)×Buddleja davidii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Podaras #12’.

The new Buddleja plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ithaca, N.Y. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and sterile Buddleja plants with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Buddleja plant originated from a cross-pollination on Jan. 17, 2007 in Ithaca, N.Y., of an unnamed selection of Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection of Buddleja davidii, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Buddleja plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Ithaca, N.Y. in August, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Buddleja plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in West Chicago, Ill. since Feb., 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Buddleja plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Buddleja have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Podaras #12’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Podaras #12’ as a new and distinct Buddleja plant:

-   -   1. Compact and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. Sterile violet blue-colored flowers.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Buddleja differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Buddleja are smaller than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Buddleja are broader than and not as open         as plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Buddleja differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Buddleja are shorter and denser than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Buddleja and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Buddleja can be compared to plants of Buddleja davidii ‘Petite Indigo’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Buddleja and ‘Petite Indigo’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Buddleja were shorter and broader than         plants of ‘Petite Indigo’.     -   2. Plants of the new Buddleja were denser than and not as open         as plants of ‘Petite Indigo’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Buddleja plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Buddleja plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Podaras #12’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Podaras #12’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Arroyo Grande, Calif. under commercial practice during the summer in 12.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging 21° C. and night temperatures averaging 7° C. Plants were pinched two times and were three months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: (Buddleja davidii×Buddleja     alternifolia)×Buddleja davidii ‘Podaras #12’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Buddleja             davidii×Buddleja alternifolia, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Buddleja             davidii, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots plant, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots plant, winter.—About two to three             weeks at temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About three to four             weeks at temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Deciduous perennial shrub; compact and             outwardly spreading plant habit; broad inverted triangle;             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 23 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 38 cm by 56 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: About ten main branches per             plant. Length: About 52 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode             length: About 4.5 cm to 5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture,             developing stems: Lanulose. Texture, mature stems: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, developing: Close to 146C. Color, mature:             Close to 195C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 191D. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to N137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 148B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Lanulose. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate and salverform flowers             arranged in compound terminal and axillary panicles; flowers             face upright and outward; panicles roughly conical in shape;             freely flowering habit with about 120 flower buds and             flowers developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, sweet.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three             months after planting; flowering continuous from spring             until frost in California.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about three to four             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: Close to 90C.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower throat, diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Flower tube, length.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Flower tube, diameter at base.—About 2 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl; petals fused into a narrow tube. Lobe length: About             3 mm. Lobe width: About 3 mm. Lobe shape: Roughly spatulate.             Lobe apex: Rounded. Lobe margin: Erosulate, crinkled.             Texture, upper and lower lobe surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, throat: Slightly pubescent. Texture, tube: Slightly             pubescent. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: Close to             91A. Developing petals, lower surface: Close to 91A. Fully             expanded petals, upper surface: Close to 92B; venation,             close to 92B; color becoming closer to 92C with development.             Fully expanded petals, lower surface: Close to 92B;             venation, close to 92B. Throat: Close to N167C; venation,             close to N167C. Tube: Close to 165D; towards the base, close             to 157A; venation, close to 157A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; campanulate calyx. Length:             About 1.5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 144B. Color, lower surface: Close to 194B;             towards the apex, close to N92D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Angle: Mostly erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: Close to 191A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 191B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four; filaments adnate to the corolla tube. Filament length:             About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 157A. Anther shape:             Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close             to 160D. Pollen amount: None. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma             color: Close to 144A. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color:             Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 194C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Flowers of plants of the new Buddleja are             sterile and seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Buddleja have been not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Buddleja. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Buddleja have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Buddleja plant named ‘Podaras #12’ as illustrated and described. 